magnet

From Ancient Greekμαγνήτης λίθος (magnḗtēs líthos, “Magnesian stone”), after Lydian city Magnesia ad Sipylum (modern-day Manisa, Turkey), named after the Greek region of Μαγνησία (Magnēsía), whence came the colonist who founded it. In ancient times the city was a primary source of mysterious stones that could attract or repel each other, which were eventually named after it.